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Abstract:

A geolocation data acquisition system (200) and method (400) for
acquiring communication session data from a mobile radio communications
network (210). A data extraction module (222, 226) extracts call session
data continuously from a network of call processors (224, 228), each call
processor supporting mobile communication units in an associated
geographical region of the coverage area of the mobile radio
communications network. The data extraction module (222, 226) provides
the extracted data to one of several storage areas (260). In each storage
area, a record is created of the communication session data for each call
made within the coverage area of an associated set of call processors
(224, 228). The records stored in each storage area (260) comprise the
data available for all communication sessions in the geographical region
associated with the corresponding set of call processors (224, 228).

Claims:

1. A geolocation data acquisition system (200) for communication session
data from a mobile radio communications network, the mobile radio
communications network comprising a network of call processors (224),
each call processor supporting mobile communication units in an
associated geographical region of the coverage area of the mobile radio
communications network, comprising: a data extraction module (222),
operable to extract communication session data continuously from each
call processor (224; 324); the data extraction module (222; 322) being:
(i) operable to access communication session data for calls made within
the coverage area of each call processor (224; 324) linked to the data
extraction module (222; 322); (ii) further linked to a storage area (260)
associated with a set of the call processors (224; 324) and the data
extraction module (222; 322), the storage area (260) adapted to store a
record of the communication session data for each call made within the
coverage area of the set of call processors (224; 324); and wherein the
records stored in each storage area (260) comprise the data available for
all communication sessions in the geographical region associated with the
corresponding set of call processors (224; 324).

2. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1,
further comprising: at least two data extraction modules (222, 226; 322,
326), at least one of the data extraction modules being a network probe
(222); at least one of the network probes (222; 322) being connected to a
radio network controller (224; 324) of the mobile radio communications
network, the radio network controller being the call processor (224; 324)
for an associated coverage area of the mobile radio communications
network; and wherein the network probe (222; 322) captures communication
session data flowing between the radio network controller and another
element of the mobile radio communications network.

3. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2,
wherein: the network probe (222) is an external probe, arranged to tap
into a flow of communication session data at the location of the radio
network controller, without being integrated into the mobile radio
communications network.

4. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2,
wherein: the network probe (322) is integrated into a base station of the
mobile radio communications network.

5. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2,
wherein: the network probe (222) captures communication session data
flowing between the radio network controller and the operational support
system of the mobile radio communications network.

6. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1,
wherein: at least one of the data extraction modules is a module of the
operational support system of the mobile radio communications network;
the call processors are radio network controllers of the radio
communications network; and the at least one module is operable to
capture communication session data reaching the operational support
system for calls occurring in the coverage area of the radio network
controllers.

7. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1,
further comprising a data loader (270) associated with each storage area
(260), the data loader (270) operable to: (i) receive the communication
session data from the data extraction module (222; 322); (ii) store the
communication session data as a record for each call, in the storage area
(260) associated with the data loader (270); (iii) process the
communication session data, to identify a subset of communication session
data and geolocation information for each record of a communication
session; and (iv) send the subset of communication session data and
geolocation information for each record to a geolocation storage area.

8. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 7,
wherein the subset of communication session data comprises one or more
of: (i) call connection setup information and call closedown information;
(ii) information concerning the radio links and/or the radio bearers
involved in the call; (iii) the type of call; (iv) timing data concerning
the cell sites visible to a user terminal; and (v) received signal
strength and/or signal-to-noise ratio for the call.

9. A geolocation data acquisition system in accordance with claim 7,
wherein: the data loader (270) is operable to derive quality of service
information from each record of a communication session, and to send the
quality of service information to the geolocation storage area.

10. A method of geolocation data acquisition (400) for communication
session data from a mobile radio communications network, the mobile radio
communications network comprising a network of call processors (224, 228,
232; 324, 328, 332), each call processor supporting mobile communication
units in an associated geographical region of the coverage area of the
mobile radio communications network, comprising: a data extraction module
(222; 322) extracting communication session data continuously from each
call processor (224; 324); whereby: (i) the data extraction module (222;
322) accesses communication session data for calls made within a coverage
area of a call processor (224; 324) linked to the data extraction module
(222; 322); and (ii) the data extraction module (222; 322) supplies the
communication session data to a storage area (260) associated with a set
of the call processors (224; 324) and the data extraction module (222;
322), the storage area (260) storing a record of the communication
session data for each call made within the coverage area of the set of
call processors (224; 324); whereby the records stored in each storage
area (260) comprise the data available for all communication sessions in
the geographical region associated with the corresponding set of call
processors (224; 324).

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising: providing
at least two data extraction modules, at least one of the data extraction
modules being a network probe (222; 322), at least one of the network
probes being connected to a radio network controller of the mobile radio
communications network, the radio network controller being the call
processor (224; 324) for an associated coverage area of the mobile radio
communications network; and the network probe (222; 322) capturing
communication session data flowing between the radio network controller
and another element of the mobile radio communications network.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising: the network
probe (222; 322) capturing communication session data flowing between the
radio network controller and the operational support system of the mobile
radio communications network.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising: at least
one of the data extraction modules being a module of the operational
support system of the mobile radio communications network, and the call
processor (224; 324) being a radio network controller of the radio
communications network; and the at least one data extraction module
capturing communication session data reaching the operational support
system, for calls occurring in the coverage area of the radio network
controller.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein a data loader (270)
associated with a storage area (260): (i) receives the communication
session data from the data extraction module (222; 322); (ii) stores the
communication session data as a record for each call, in the storage area
(260) associated with the data loader (270); (iii) processes the
communication session data, to identify a subset of communication session
data and geolocation information for each record of a communication
session; and (iv) sends the subset of communication session data and
geolocation information for each record to a geolocation storage area.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the data loader (270)
extracts the following communication session data: (i) call connection
setup information and call closedown information; (ii) information
concerning the radio links and/or the radio bearers involved in the call;
(iii) the type of call; (iv) timing data concerning the cell sites
visible to a user terminal; and (v) received signal strength and/or
signal-to-noise ratio for the call.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein: the data loader (270)
derives quality of service information from each record of a
communication session; and sends the quality of service information to
the geolocation storage area.

17. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising: a
computer-readable storage device having executable program code stored
therein for programming signal processing logic.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the computer-readable
storage device comprises at least one of: a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an
optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read Only Memory
(ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory (EEPROM), and a Flash memory.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates to a geolocation data
acquisition system. The system may be used to acquire data relating to
communications made in a wireless mobile communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Wireless communication systems, such as the 3rd Generation
(3G) of mobile telephone standards and technology, are well known. An
example of such 3G standards and technology is the Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS®), developed by the 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®) (www.3gpp.org).

[0003] The 3rd and 4th generations of wireless communications,
and particular systems such as LTE, have generally been developed to
support macro-cell mobile phone communications. Here the `phone` may be a
smart phone, or another mobile or portable communication unit that is
linked wirelessly to a network through which calls are connected.
Henceforth all these devices will be referred to as mobile communication
units. Calls may be data, video, or voice calls, or a combination of
these. Such macro cells utilise high power base stations to communicate
with wireless communication units within a relatively large geographical
coverage area. The coverage area may be several square kilometres, or
larger if it is not in a built-up area.

[0004] Typically, mobile communication units, or User Equipment as they
are often referred to in 3G, communicate with a Core Network of the 3G
wireless communication system. This communication is via a Radio Network
Subsystem. A wireless communication system typically comprises a
plurality of Radio Network Subsystems. Each Radio Network Subsystem
comprises one or more cells, to which mobile communication units may
attach, and thereby connect to the network. A base station may serve a
cell with multiple antennae, each of which serves one sector of the cell.

[0005] A parameter of interest to operators of mobile communication
networks is `quality of service information`. This is information that
reveals how well the network is supporting users of the network. A high
quality of service may be indicated by a very low rate of `dropped`
calls, or by very few mobiles experiencing low or highly variable signal
strength.

[0006] In most known cellular networks, quality of service information is
reported on a `per-cell` or `per-sector basis`. This means that the
network statistics obtained will only provide an indication of, for
example, the average data rate or the average number of dropped calls in
a given sector. These averages do not allow the network operator to
narrow down the information, for example, to indicate if a particular
portion of that sector is:

[0007] (i) Habitually causing calls to be
dropped; or

[0008] (ii) Suffering from a poor data rate. A poor data rate
may arise as a consequence of poor coverage in that particular area, or
due to interference from a neighbouring cell.

[0009] A more detailed view of these issues is very useful to network
operators. One prior art approach is thus to conduct `drive tests`, to
assess coverage within a sector or cell. However, drive testing is
expensive, and only provides data on what is happening at street level
along the particular path taken during the test. The majority of phone
and data calls are now made within buildings, and drive tests do not give
any indication of the quality of service experience within a building.
This is a major issue.

[0010] Geo-location is the identification of the real-world geographical
location of, say, a mobile communication unit of a 3G system or the like.
Geo-location of mobile communication units can be performed in several
ways. These include providing a mobile communication unit with
positioning equipment, such as GPS, or using network and mobile
measurement data for nearby cells.

[0011] However, even if a user's terminal device has a GPS receiver built
in, these devices are frequently disabled by users to save battery life.
They are not included at all on many devices, e.g. low-cost handsets,
data `dongles` for laptops and machine-to-machine data communication
terminals. The use of GPS data alone is therefore not sufficient to build
an accurate picture of network service levels.

[0012] Some cellular systems are mandated to provide user location
information when an emergency (`911`) call is made. Again these calls are
not sufficiently frequent to build up a good picture of the quality of
service experienced throughout a network at all times of the day and
night, and in all seasons of the year. In addition, the network equipment
architecture required in these `E911 Geolocation` systems is complex,
since every base-station in the network needs to be fitted with an
additional piece of electronics in order to locate the user to a suitable
(mandated) degree of accuracy, which is typically 100 m. To use this type
of architecture for service quality assessments throughout a network
would be prohibitively expensive.

[0013] The network statistics referred to above, which only provide the
average data rate or the average number of dropped calls in a given
sector, are insufficient for some tasks faced by network operators. For
example, if a particular mobile user complains that he is often subject
to poor service, the data that is available may not help. Likewise, some
individual faults in the network, such as wrongly directed antennae, may
not be revealed by the `average` data.

[0014] To try and improve the information available on service levels,
some operators have attempted to compile more comprehensive data for a
limited time on what exactly is happening in one sector or one cell of a
network. There are two reasons why this is rarely done, as follows:

[0015] (i) A vast amount of data is created, even for a short time
period, such as a few hours. Storing this data in a retrievable form is
very expensive.

[0016] (ii) Once data concerning calls made in a sector
or cell of a network has been recorded for a period of a few hours, it
then requires specialist post-processing. Without this, it is very
difficult to access individual records within an acceptable time. After
post-processing, any information that can be gleaned about a user, or
part of the network, is then often only available several hours after the
end of the data capture. This may be several days after a user has made a
complaint. Even such information is only of limited value.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows one prior art approach, in the form of a flow chart.

[0018] The approach shown in FIG. 1 is usual in the `batch processing`
technique used by known systems. Method 100 of FIG. 1 gathers all of the
information for a time period after a problem arose in a network sector.
Step 110 involves deciding where to place a probe. Step 120 involves
operating the probe for long enough to obtain meaningful data. Step 130
involves specialist off-line processing of the information. Step 140
involves a user deciding what can be understood, from the processed data.
Step 140 may take many different forms, depending on the reason why the
probe was added to the network.

[0019] With the process of FIG. 1, the data is essentially obtained
manually by the operator of the network, and processed off-line. This
typically results in a delay of many hours, between the event of interest
taking place and the resulting diagnostic information being available.

[0020] The fact that the process of FIG. 1 is `retroactive` may also be a
problem. It will only assist in identifying a fault:

[0021] (i) If it is
a network fault that is still detectable, rather than one that only
occurs intermittently.

[0022] (ii) If the user happens to be active
during the few hours when the data is captured, in cases where the fault
is due to a faulty handset.

[0023] In summary, the prior art relies on average statistics for much
quality of service analysis. Where data is captured, it is often only of
value if a fault happens to re-occur during the period of capture.
Skilled analysis is required to process the captured data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a flowchart, illustrating a prior art method.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus in accordance with
the invention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram, illustrating an alternative
embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, illustrating a generalised method in
accordance with the invention.

[0030] Examples of the invention will be described in terms of a
geolocation data acquisition system for communication session data from a
mobile radio communications network, and a method of geolocation data
acquisition.

[0031] The geolocation data acquisition system and method employ network
probes to capture communication session data continuously, from a network
of call processors of a mobile radio communications network. The network
probes thereby capture communication session data for substantially all
calls in each geographical region of the mobile radio communications
network. The invention may use one or both of two kinds of network probe.

[0032] The network probes generally act as a data extraction module. One
general type of probe can be located at the level of either the call
processors or the base stations of the mobile radio communications
network. The call processors may, for example, be `Radio Network
Controllers` of a 3G network. In this case, probes can either be arranged
to tap into data at the location of the Radio Network Controller itself,
or can be integrated with base stations of the mobile radio
communications network. The second type of probe used as a data
extraction module comprises a module of the Operation Support System of
the mobile radio communications network.

[0033] Either type of probe that provides the function of the data
extraction module will continually capture communication session data
from each call processor. That data is then supplied to a series of
storage areas. Each storage area is associated with a specific set of one
or more call processors, and is adapted to store a record of the
communication session data for each call made within the coverage area of
the set of call processors.

[0034] The records stored in each storage area comprise the data available
for all communication sessions in the geographical region associated with
the corresponding set of call processors. The availability of data for
each call means that a comprehensive database exists, from which
geolocation data for each call can be derived.

[0035] The invention may capture all required data, at all times, and
capture the data as it arises in the communications network. The real
data from the network may therefore already be available for an event,
when that event is reported. Here the `event` may be a fault in the
network infrastructure or a failing mobile communication. Furthermore,
the data may show faults in the network that have yet to be reported, and
these can then be pre-empted. The data can be searched to understand the
cause of the original fault or problem, with no need to wait for it to
recur. This may result in superior fault tracing performance and quality
of service statistics, compared to those available from prior art
systems.

[0036]FIG. 2 shows a geolocation data acquisition system for
communication session data from a mobile radio communications network,

[0037] The mobile radio communications network comprises a network of call
processors such as elements 224, 228 and 232. In all, eight call
processors 224, 228, 232, 236, 240, 244, 248, and 252 are shown the top
row of FIG. 2. Each call processor supports mobile communication units in
an associated geographical region of the coverage area of the mobile
radio communications network.

[0038] Each call processor 224, 228 and 232 may comprise a radio network
controller, which handles call data for a group of base stations.
However, other designs of mobile radio communications networks will have
call processors that may not be RNCs. In a typical large radio
communications network, there are several hundred base stations. These
base stations would typically be supported by several call processors.
The base stations in a large mobile radio communications network may
generate more than 100 gigabytes of call session data in a 24 hour
period.

[0039] A data extraction module is linked permanently to each call
processor, and is operable to extract communication session data
continuously from each call processor. This arrangement means that, other
than during maintenance periods, the data extraction module will always
access the data on call sessions that is flowing to or from the call
processor. This differs substantially from those prior art arrangements
where the call session data from one sector or cell site of the mobile
radio communications network is monitored for a period of perhaps a few
hours.

[0040] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the data extraction module takes the
form of a network probe 222, 226, 230.

[0041] In embodiments of the invention where the data extraction module
takes the form of a network probe, there are at least two possible
configurations of probe, as follows:

[0042] (i) The probes may be
connected to the lub interface of the mobile radio communications
network. Probes in this configuration essentially act analogously to test
equipment. They are not integrated into the mobile radio communications
network, i.e. the network is not adapted or changed to accommodate them.
These probes essentially tap into a stream of existing call session data
that is flowing from or to the call processors 224, 228 and 232. The
probes have been termed `Commercial Network Probes` in FIG. 2, because
such designs of probe are commercially available. However, this design of
probe is for use in the prior art as a temporary data monitor, typically
for just one call processor, to try and trace a fault that is believed to
be present at that call processor.

[0043] (ii) The second possibility is
to install a probe in each base station of the mobile radio
communications network. Each call processor typically handles call
session data from many base stations. So installing a probe in each base
station requires more probes. FIG. 3, which is explained in more detail
later, shows such probes symbolically as elements 322, 326 and 330.
However, there would be multiple probes for each call processor, rather
than the illustrative single probe 322, 326 and 330 per processor shown
on FIG. 3, since there may be one probe per base station.

[0045] The invention may be implemented with a mix of the two types of
probe 222 and 322 explained under (i) and (ii) above. So data may be
gathered from some parts of the mobile radio communications network using
probes 222 arranged at the location of the call processors, as shown in
FIG. 2. Other parts of the same mobile radio communications network may
have probes 322 installed directly in base stations.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the data extraction module takes the form
of a module within the Operational Support System of the mobile radio
communications network itself. Thus the data for each call processor can
be harvested directly from existing signalling within the Operational
Support System. The advantage of this approach is that it does not
require the dedicated network probes 222 and 322 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0047] The arrangement of the invention, as shown for example in FIG. 2,
contrasts with the prior art arrangements described in the background
section in that:

[0048] (i) The continuous extraction of communication
session data means that all session data passing through a call processor
224, 228, 232, 324, 328, 332 will be captured, over a period of weeks,
months or years. The system of FIG. 2 may be set up to run indefinitely.
The prior art arrangements saw the data gathering phase as an activity
for perhaps a few hours. The continuous data extraction of the invention
does not require operator intervention, to decide where in the network to
install a probe, and for how long. The data extraction module/probe of
the invention taps into the mobile radio communications network, and
serves as an automatic feed of information from the network.

[0049] (ii)
Each of the call processors 224, 228, 232 has a data extraction module
222, 226, 230 associated with it. This means that all the geographical
regions of the network are monitored simultaneously, and communication
session data is extracted from all the call processors 224, 228, 232 of
the network.

[0050] With the invention, therefore, each data extraction module 222,
226, 230 is operable to access communication session data for calls made
within the coverage area of the call processors 224, 228, 232 to which
the data extraction module 222, 226, 230 is linked. The communication
session data for the calls is then stored in a storage area 260 that is
associated with the particular data extraction module 222, 226, 230 and
with a set of the call processors 224, 228, 232 from which the data
originated. The storage area 260 for a data extraction module 222, 226,
230 is adapted to store a record of the communication session data for
each call made within the coverage area of the set of the call processors
224, 228, 232 to which the data extraction module 222, 226, 230 and
storage area 260 are linked. The set of call processors associated with
any individual storage area 260 may comprise just one call processor 224,
or may comprise more. Typically, ten call processors may be associated
with one individual storage area 260. The members of the set may also
vary over time.

[0051] As a result of the structure shown in FIG. 2, the records stored in
each storage area 260 comprise the data available for all communication
sessions in a corresponding coverage area of the associated set of call
processors 224, 228, 232. The following three detailed examples
illustrate how this may be achieved:

[0052] a) The first storage area 260
may be arranged to be a fast, local store. The records are first saved
from the data extraction module to the fast, local store. Here `local`
means that the storage area 260 is associated with the data extraction
module 222, 226, 230, e.g. the network probe, and the call processor 224,
228, 232 from which it extracts communication session data. The records
can be extracted from the fast store, processed, and then the original
record passed to a slower, large store. The advantage of this approach is
the speed of the processing. A disadvantage might be the necessary size
of the slower, larger store.

[0053] b) The first storage area 260 may be
arranged to be a fast, local store, to which the records are saved from
the data extraction module 222, 226, 230. The records can be extracted
from the fast store, processed, and then the original record can be
deleted. The advantage of this is the processing speed. The disadvantage
is the fact that the original record is not available subsequently, for
example for any detailed study.

[0054] c) The first storage area 260 may
be arranged to be a larger, local store, to which records are first
copied from the data extraction module. The records can simply be
extracted from the larger store, and processed. The advantage is that
very little fast local disk space is required.

[0055] In embodiments of the invention using a network probe as the data
extraction module 222, 226, 230, each network probe may capture
communication session data flowing between the radio network controller
and another element of the mobile radio communications network. The other
element of the mobile radio communications network may be the Operational
Support System of the mobile radio communications network. In this
situation, the network probe will tap into all the communication session
data flowing between the radio network controller and the operational
support system, for calls occurring in the coverage area of the radio
network controller. This requires only that the network probes harvest
data which is already flowing within the mobile radio communications
network.

[0056] In the alternative embodiment described above, at least one of the
data extraction modules is formed by a module of the operational support
system of the mobile radio communications network. The function of the
module is to capture communication session data that reaches the
operational support system, for calls occurring in the coverage area of a
radio network controller of the radio communications network. Thus the
module can extract call session data for calls processed by the radio
network controller, as that data reaches the operational support system.

[0057] There is a wide variety of call session information that may be of
use to the geolocation data acquisition system of the present invention.
Once data has been obtained from each data extraction module 222, 226,
230, a subset of information may be assembled for each call record.
Typically, the subset may comprise, for example:

[0063] However, many other items of data for the call may be selected
instead of (i)-(v) above. Once data such as this subset of the
communication session data has been assembled for each call, it may be
processed to provide geolocation information for each call. This
geolocation information may be available far more rapidly than with
conventional arrangements, and be available for all calls, in all
geographical regions of the mobile radio communications data.

[0064] The geolocation information for each call may be passed to a
database server 280, and on to a subsequent geolocation data store. The
geolocation data store is shown as the `Geo store` adjacent to database
server 280 in FIG. 2. The geolocation information for each call may be
stored together with the subset of data, such as the information shown
under (i)-(v) above. One geolocation data store may collect all the
subsets of data and the geolocation data from all calls, as shown in FIG.
2.

[0065] When the data extraction module is a probe connected to a radio
network controller, or is a module of the OSS, it may be able to extract
messages covering all of the information listed in table 1 below:

TABLE-US-00001
TABLE 1
Messages extracted continuously by data extraction module
Type of information Example/comment
Call connection This may include:
setup (i) The fact that a new voice or data call has been
information set up; and
(ii) The time at which it was set up.
Call closedown This may include:
information (i) The fact that a voice or data call has been
closed down;
(ii) The time at which this happened; and
(iii) The reason why the call closed down, i.e. was it
closed down intentionally by the user, or
prematurely due to a problem in/with the network.
Identification This provides information about the base-stations
of the radio links to which the call is connected.
involved in the call
Measured radio This is the propagation delay measured for signals
propagation delay passing from the base-station to the handset,
or vice versa.
The radio bearer The radio bearer(s) may be, for example, 3G,
or bearers involved HSPA, HSPA+ etc. More than one may be
during the call involved, for example during a video-
conferencing call.
The type of call Examples of call types are: voice, data, SMS, MMS
etc
Measurement Measurement reports may provide information on:
reports (i) Cell sites that are visible to the user's terminal
(ii) Timing values. These may be offsets from the
user-terminal's master clock at which the base-
station's signals are seen. These may be used to
determine the terminal's geographic location.
RCSP The RCSP is effectively the received signal strength
and signal-to-noise ratio, in the form of Ec/No.
Subscriber This may comprise the IMSI and IMEI. However,
information the user's identity is not known, since it is not
known by the network.

[0066] Some or all of the communication session data in Table 1 is stored
in its original, unprocessed format in the first storage areas 260
associated with the radio network controller from which it was extracted.
A subset of the data stored in first storage areas 260 will pass to the
geolocation data store.

[0067] The geolocation data acquisition system of the invention may
comprise a processing unit, indicated as data loader 270 on FIG. 2. Data
loader 270 may lie between the data extraction module and the first
storage area 260 that receives communication session data from that data
extraction module. The data loader 270 associated with a storage area 260
may:

[0069] (ii) store the communication session data as a
record for each call, in the storage area 260 associated with the data
loader 270;

[0070] (iii) process the communication session data, to
identify a subset of communication session data and geolocation
information for each record of a communication session; and

[0071] (iv)
send the subset of communication session data and geolocation information
for each record to the geolocation storage area.

[0072] The data loader 270 may also derive quality of service information
from each record of a communication session, and send the quality of
service information to the geolocation storage area 250.

[0073] Finally, network planning system 254 is shown in FIG. 2. Network
planning system 254 may provide information to a data loader 270. Network
planning system 270 may contain information such as:

[0074] (i) The
location of antennas that serve cells or base stations of wireless
communications network; and

[0075] (ii) The pointing angle of the
antennas.

[0076] Information from network planning system 254 may be collected and
processed by a data loader 270. The information from the network planning
system may more rapidly enable a decision to be made about whether to
change the configuration of the mobile wireless communication system, in
the light of the information collected by the network probes about
events, such as faults in the operation of the mobile wireless
communication system. Network planning system 254 may contribute to
diagnosis of a fault, and action to correct the fault, more rapidly than
otherwise would be possible. In some instances, a fault may be diagnosed
before it has been either noticed or reported by users of a network. This
contributes to system reliability, hence reducing the resources needed to
deal with the consequences of faults that last for prolonged periods, in
the network.

[0077]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention with network probes
integrated into the hardware of the mobile radio communications network.

[0079] Network probes are shown as 322 to 350 are integrated into elements
of the mobile radio communications system. As described earlier, they may
comprise a network of probes, built into the base stations of the mobile
radio communications system. However, they may be integrated into other
parts of the mobile radio communications system. A difference over the
probes shown in FIG. 2 is that in FIG. 2, the probes tap into the call
processors, without further disturbance to the mobile radio
communications system. With the probes of FIG. 3, more engineering effort
may be required to install the probes permanently.

[0080]FIG. 4 shows a general illustration of a method in accordance with
the invention, to show how this differs from the approach shown in FIG.
1. The steps of FIG. 4 contrast very clearly with those of prior art FIG.
1. Step 410 shows that a data extractor, such as a network probe, is
provided for each radio network controller. This is an action that is
performed once, not occasionally when there has been a report of a fault
in part of a network.

[0081] Step 420 shows that data capture is arranged to be ongoing, i.e.
continuous. Step 430 shows that the data processing is also ongoing,
rather than the batch processing of data as was the case with the prior
art. Step 440 makes clear what has been achieved. The records held in
storage areas 260 are comprehensive. The storage of comprehensive data
from the network probes provides a resource for later investigation of
faults, using data that was captured as the faults first occurred, rather
than retrospectively.

[0082] The method of FIG. 4 makes clear some of the advantages of the
invention. The invention may wholly or partially overcome the problems
associated with the prior art of:

[0083] (i) Physical storage space,
since many hundreds of gigabytes of data may be produced in one
communications network, each day.

[0084] (ii) How to access that data.

[0085] (iii) Which bits of that data to access.

[0086] FIG. 5 provides a specific embodiment of the method 500 of the
invention for geolocation data acquisition, for communication session
data from a mobile radio communications network. Although the method is
shown as steps, some of the steps are simultaneous. For example, steps
510-530, once started, continue indefinitely.

[0087] In step 510, a data extraction module extracts communication
session data continuously from each call processor. In step 520, the data
extraction module supplies the communication session data to a storage
area 260 associated with the call processor 224 and the data extraction
module.

[0088] In step 530, the storage area stores a record of the communication
session data for each call made within the coverage area of the call
processor 224. As a result of steps 510-530, the records stored in each
storage area 260 comprise the data available for all communication
sessions in the geographical region associated with the corresponding set
of call processors.

[0089] In optional step 540, the data loader 270 derives geolocation
and/or quality of service information from each record of a communication
session, and sends these to the geolocation storage area.

[0090] A computer-readable storage device may be provided, to perform the
method of the invention. The computer-readable storage device has
executable program code stored therein, for programming signal processing
logic to perform the method of the invention. The computer-readable
storage device may comprise at least one of: a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an
optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read Only Memory
(ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory (EEPROM), and a Flash memory.

[0091] The inventive concept can be applied to any signal processing
circuit. It is further envisaged that, for example, a semiconductor
manufacturer may employ the inventive concept in a design of a
stand-alone device, such as a microcontroller, digital signal processor,
or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or any other
sub-system element.

[0092] It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above
description has described embodiments of the invention with reference to
different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent
that any suitable distribution of functionality between different
functional units or processors, for example with respect to the
beamforming module or beam scanning module, may be used without
detracting from the invention. For example, functionality illustrated to
be performed by separate processors or controllers may be performed by
the same processor or controller. Hence, references to specific
functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for
providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict
logical or physical structure or organization.

[0093] Aspects of the invention may be implemented in any suitable form
including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The
invention may optionally be implemented, at least partly, as computer
software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal
processors or configurable module components such as field programmable
gate array (FPGA) devices. Thus, the elements and components of an
embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically
implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be
implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other
functional units.

[0094] Although the present invention has been described in connection
with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific
form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is
limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature
may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one
skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described
embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the
claims, the term `comprising` does not exclude the presence of other
elements or steps.

[0095] Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means,
elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single
unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be
included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously
combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a
combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the
inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a
limitation to this category, but rather indicates that the feature is
equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

[0096] Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any
specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular
the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the
steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed
in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a
plurality. Thus, references to `a`, `an`, `first`, `second`, etc. do not
preclude a plurality.